Humane Society asks county to fund $10,000 spay/neuter voucher program

Judy Harper, representing the Humane Society of Washington County, asked commissioners to recommend a $10,000 annual spay/neuter voucher program for county residents. She said each voucher would provide $50 toward the cost of spaying or neutering an owned dog or cat and estimated the funding could assist roughly 200 pets per year.

Harper framed the proposal as prevention: "Instead of buying another ambulance at the bottom of the cliff, let's build a fence at the top," she told commissioners. Harper said the humane society would administer the program in partnership with local veterinarians, verify eligibility, track voucher redemption, and provide an annual report to the county.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions on eligibility, inclusion of dogs, and cost estimates for typical procedures (Harper reported current local ranges). The board agreed to recommend the request to the county council and to consider the appropriation during budget deliberations.